Ghanaian forward Mohammed Kudus has been handed an extended suspension following his red card incident during West Ham’s 4-1 loss to Tottenham last month.
Kudus received an additional two-game suspension on top of his initial three-match ban, along with a £60,000 fine.
The incident occurred in the 82nd minute when Kudus was involved in a physical altercation with Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, who later alleged that Kudus “punched him in the face” amid the confrontation. Kudus was also seen pushing Spurs midfielder Pape Matar Sarr.
Initially cautioned with a yellow card, Kudus’s actions were reviewed by VAR and upgraded to a red for violent conduct, resulting in an automatic three-game ban.
However, the Football Association conducted a further investigation, ultimately determining that Kudus’s actions warranted additional disciplinary measures, leading to the two-game extension.
This means Kudus will now miss a total of five matches, including two fixtures he has already sat out:
West Ham’s games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.
The extension ensures that Kudus will be unavailable for the upcoming matches, including a crucial encounter with Everton this weekend, as well as one additional game afterward.
The extended suspension marks a significant setback for West Ham as they contend with key fixtures in both domestic league play and European competition, where Kudus has been a pivotal player.
His absence leaves the team short on attacking options and underscores the importance of discipline on the field, with West Ham’s manager reportedly urging players to maintain composure to avoid further setbacks.
